Soulcombe on the right track towards Australian Cup

Craig Williams says time has been the friend of Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe after partnering the stayer in a track gallop at Caulfield.

Chris Waller called on Williams to partner Soulcombe as the gelding builds to a potential target of the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in late March.

Williams was aboard Soulcombe in his Australian debut win at Flemington on the final day of the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival and rode him again when seventh in last year’s Caulfield Cup after the pair had run third in the Turnbull Stakes.

“I know the horse and have got comparisons to his first ever race start here, going back to the spring two years ago and of course I rode him last spring,” Williams said.

“At least I can give a bit of feedback from my experience with him.

“The stable is happy, and I could see why by the feeling out here this morning.

“He’s more mature, he’s doing things a bit better, he’s very well. He’s quite playful, but he was a bit of a lad in his last two preparations.

“He was a real lad when he first got off the plane and now, he’s starting to fit into Chris Waller’s training system and the horse is just turning into a better racehorse now.”

Soulcombe has the habit of missing the start, but Waller and his staff have worked on getting the gelding to leave the barriers a lot cleaner this campaign.

Williams says Soulcombe is not a bad horse in the barrier but waits for other runners to jump before jumping which the jockey hopes is a maturity thing.

“A lot of imported horses you find start finding their groove after being here a time,” Williams said.

“I can see Chris has got him in a really healthy and positive position, and it would be good, if he does leave the gates.

“We know how much of a weapon he is, anyway, especially over staying distances, it would just mean the job is going to be a lot easier for him rather than giving those top line horses head starts.”

Soulcombe is expected to go second-up into the Australian Cup in what is expected to be a light campaign ahead of a busier spring preparation.

Joining Soulcombe at Caulfield on Tuesday was Riff Rocket who has not raced since winning the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington in November.

Riff Rocket resumes in the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday week and then onto the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington two weeks later before returning to Sydney for a tilt at the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and Australian Derby (2400m).